Any thoughts on KOC contract negotiations?

Giants
Jets
Raiders
Saints
Brownies
Packers
Pittsburgh

And then looking at whats available via draft or FA at QB?

I am SOOOO glad we got a chance to draft JJM and actually pulled the trigger. 

For me, that takes some sting out of a fun season that ended with a thump and a flop.  It also pivots discussion from what QB? To how do we best surround the guy?

Thats a lot more fun for me...

situational route running play calling.
The past 2 weeks almost nobody was open and the check downs weren’t always seen or visible.
I didn’t like Sam’s decision making or ball placement either but, the WRs were blanketed a lot. It looked the DBs knew where to be and dline gave a wrong passing lane for Sam to succeed.
He should have ran more after the 1st read.

I was really looking forward to this game, as I'm sure you all were.

Darnold holds onto the ball waaay tooo long.  Yeah, he had one of the longest timing of average throws, and we thought it was just fine because it takes time to lead the league in long plays.  He could not adapt.  I remember last year, the first game against Tampa Bay, thinking we would steamroller them and Baker Mayfield tore us apart with quick throws.  He almost looked like he did against Jacksonville (both of the last two games).

How many of Darnold's passes were off the mark, too low, too high...he did not have the touch both of the last two games.  It was noticeable that he was off the mark last night, last week.

Comparing Darnold to Stafford last night, you can see what a base salary of $23.5mm gets you vs. $10mm.  Stafford is a bargain.  Note his quick releases.

Recalling how long Darnold held on to the ball last night, I thought that there must be something better.  So this morning I started watching last season's JJM highlights at Michigan.  Yes, he has a quicker release from what I can see, and a much nicer downfield touch delivering the ball than what I've seen from Darnold the last two games.  Now I need to look at Jones' release.  I thought it was heresy that we would consider keeping all three next year.  I don't know what they will do, but the status quo won't cut it.

What happened to our OLine?  The first sack was on O'Neill.  Talk about a rarity.  Gonna have to look at Free Agency to upgrade the interior of the OL.  But nine sacks?  Tied for the most in NFL history in a single playoff game.  That's how historically awful it was. 

Aaron Jones was mostly solid all season.  But without run blocking you get a 3.7 per rush average, like last night.  Comparing his season's full body of work, the franchise has had 24 seasons with a 1,000 yard rusher.   This season put Aaron Jones in 18th place all-time.  Seven of those 1,000+ yard seasons belonged to AP.  Four to Dalvin Cook and to Robert Smith.  And three to Chuck Foreman (playing fewer games).  His 1,138 yards on the ground was his career high.  However, add to that over 400 yards receiving.

The forward pass/fumble by Stafford was at best a fumble, at worst intentional grounding.  Refs blew it IMHO.  That's when the first wheel fell off the truck.

To say that the Vikings only lost to two teams all season is not a moral victory.  

It's gonna take me a while to recover from this embarrassment.  It was an awful performance.

Enough pussy footing around, time to call some players out. Time to help McCarthy out in a real way this year:

Kevin Seifert
@SeifertESPN
·
8h
Kevin O’Connell says there is “no question” the Vikings have to solidify the interior of their offensive line this offseason.

Kevin O'Connell: "We've got to find a way to solidify the interior of the pocket. ... There could be a 1,000 excuses made, but for me, it's the foundation of the interior of the pocket that we're going to have to take a long look at."

...before Sammy got paid in purple. Thanks for a fun season, but you have to want more out of a QB in big game situations. Holding onto the ball like he does will catch up to you and he cannot change that about himself. If Minnesota truly wants to make the big next step to NFC powerhouse, it can't be with Sam Darnold. Simple as that. KOC has the new QB still with the plastic on to mold into his perfect version of what he feels a NFL QB should be like, so let's go on McCarthy. Full steam ahead. That's how he will be judged. HIS QB running HIS system. He's been smart enough and successful enough to deserve that and he's built an amazing culture. The next step in O'Connell's evolution is now playoff success. Sometimes it takes a really good HC a bit to break through in that area. 

You have cap money, an unadulterated young QB full of potential and very soon a new extension: build the team you want now and let's change the narrative for the Minnesota Vikings. I feel KOC can do that. I still feel very good about this team's near and long-term future. Let the trolls and doom-sayers bray like donkeys, it won't change my perspective as we stand now. As disappointing as this is, I can't help but see the silver lining because its very obvious to me. I'm convinced these two will bring home to Viking Nation what we've desperately wanted.

Yeah, Sam Darnold shit to bed, but the Rams did the exact same thing defensively as Detroit did, and Kevin  made no adjustments whatsoever. Just about every first read for Sam was 15 to 20 yards downfield just like it was in Detroit. He got beat at home by the Daniel Jones lead New York Giants - and got beat basically in another home game by an inferior team tonight. He was clearly out coached badly in all 3 games.
Oh well go Vikings!!

Re-sign Daniel Jones for 1-yr 10 million and have him and JJ McCarthy compete next year.

Darnold can make some spectacular plays against zone coverage, but he is a "need to see it open" QB.  Tight man coverage makes him hold the ball and take unnecessary sacks.  Biggest difference tonight is Stafford was getting the ball out on the face of the rush.  Darnold just holds it and takes sacks.

Get the comp pick and let's roll with our future.